The Board of Directors of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, proudly announces the appointment of Ike Anand as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Ike Anand, who has served as interim CEO since March and as chief operating officer since 2020, steps into his new role immediately, becoming the seventh CEO in ALSAC’s 68-year history.
“We are delighted Ike has officially accepted the role of CEO,” said Frederick M. Azar, MD, chair of the ALSAC Board of Directors. “Throughout his tenure, Ike has demonstrated visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to the St. Jude mission. His passion and dedication have been instrumental in redefining our strategic direction. We are confident that under Ike’s leadership, ALSAC will continue to grow and advance the mission of St. Jude to impact more of the 400,000 children around the world who develop cancer each year.”
Marlo Thomas is the National Outreach Director for St. Jude and the daughter of the late entertainer and philanthropist Danny Thomas who founded ALSAC and St. Jude. “When my father founded St. Jude with a dream that no child should die in the dawn of life, he meant no child anywhere,” Marlo Thomas said.
“Ike Anand is the perfect person to carry that dream forward and help continue to expand our mission globally. Ike’s heart, his vision, and his deep understanding of our mission make him uniquely suited to lead ALSAC into the future. I know my father would be proud of our choice.”
Anand’s appointment follows an extensive global search initiated in December, after Richard C. Shadyac Jr. announced his decision to step down following 15 years of transformative leadership.
Ike Anand is taking the helm midway through a monumental six-year $12.9 billion strategic plan launched by St. Jude in 2022 aimed at advancing cures and treatments globally – the largest such initiative in the organization’s history.
James R. Downing, MD, president and chief executive officer of St. Jude said:
“Over the past few months, Ike’s leadership has made a profound impact on our shared mission. His strategic vision and collaborative spirit have strengthened the relationship between ALSAC and St. Jude. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with him, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner to help us accelerate progress toward curing the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer and other life-threatening pediatric diseases.”
“ALSAC plays a vital role in enabling the bold ambitions of the St. Jude strategic plan, and Ike’s appointment as CEO marks an important new chapter in that journey,” said Judy Habib, chair of the St. Jude Board of Governors. “His innovative mindset and deep commitment to our mission will help ensure the continued global expansion of our reach, enabling St. Jude to accelerate research and advance scientific breakthroughs for pediatric cancer and other deadly diseases. We look forward to working alongside Ike as we strive to impact the lives of even more children around the world.”
With a distinguished career spanning both non-profit and for-profit sectors, Anand brings a wealth of experience in building and leading highly effective global teams. His visionary leadership has been pivotal in ALSAC’s digital transformation, significantly enhancing data and technology capabilities. Anand’s strategic acumen has helped drive industry-leading revenue growth while maintaining low operational costs, ensuring steadfast stewardship of donor contributions for maximum impact. As interim CEO, Anand led a revision of ALSAC’s strategic plan.
“I am deeply honored to be chosen to lead such a remarkable organization,” Anand said. “The mission of St. Jude holds a special place in my heart, and I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure ALSAC continues to provide the vital resources needed for St. Jude to confront the immense global challenge of childhood cancer. Together as one team with one mission, the dedicated board and the talented, purpose-driven teams at ALSAC and St. Jude will build on our strong foundation and drive forward with new initiatives that will enhance our impact globally.”
Before joining ALSAC, Anand served as global vice president of strategy for Expedia Group, where he spearheaded some of the company’s most critical cross-functional initiatives over his nearly 15-year tenure. His expertise in investment opportunities, marketing strategy, analytics, and global strategy positions him uniquely to lead ALSAC into its next chapter of innovation and success.
